Breast-chain terminal.



e. w. moor. BREAST CHAIN TERMINAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 19l6.

Patented Mar. 13,1917.

In VEP? fur Mm ears GEORGE W. TROOP, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT,ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH &; JUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN,CONNECTICUT, A CQRPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BREAST-CHAIN TERMINAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. Tnoor, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBreast-Chain Terminals, of which 7 the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what I shall for convenience term a breastchain terminal. As noted I have selected the title in question as amatter of convenience, this in view of the fact that the articleconstitutes an effective terminal for a breast chain; a heel chain mightbe connected to it withequal advantage. As a matter of fact there areother parts which might be united with the device. l/Vhile, therefore,as may be inferred, the article is primarily intended for use in theharness art, it is conceivable that it may be used in whole or in partin other connections. The principal object of the invention is theprovision of an appurtenance functioning as set forth, having means of asimple and effective nature, positive and certain in action by which abreast heel chain or analogous part cannot be accidentally separatedtherefrom.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodimentof the invention which will be set forth fully in the followingdescription. As will be obvious, I do not restrict myself to thisparticular showing; I may depart therefrom in several respects withinthe scope of the invention defined by the claims following saiddescription.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a terminal involving the invention andwith the eye open.

Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with the eye closed and positivelymaintained in such position. 7

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of said terminal inverted.

Figs. 4: and 5 are transverse sections on use which comprises anelongated shank, having a snap at one end and a hook at the other,thelatter for the connection therewith of a breast or heel chain. Thistype of terminal possesses one disadvantage, namely the lack of strengthof the hook which in action very frequently breaks. To eliminate thisdifliculty as far as practicable there is in use a terminal having ashank provided with an eye instead of the old hook. This eye consists oftwo hooks, one of which is hinged, this hinged hook being opened topermit the connection therewith of one of the two kinds of chains or anyother connector for that matter. This eye possesses the disadvantage ofbeing easily accidentally opened, thus permitting in this case theunintentional disconnection from the eye of the chain or equivalent.This eye possesses the requisite strength, but the diificulty to which Ihave alluded is inherent to it. I provide a construction wherein thisparticular difficulty is overcome in a highly advantageous manner, and Iwill describe the preferred construction which I have selected forillustration in my drawings. As I have already observed, I do not limitmyself to the use of the article in any particular field,although it isof especial utility when employed as part of harness. I

The device represented includes, in its make-up an elongated shank orbody as 2 which is shown as furnished at one end with 4. This eye ismade up of the hooks 5 and 6, the hook 5-being integral with the shank2, while the butt portion of the hook 6 is pivoted as at 7 to the buttportion of the hook 5. The hooks face oppositely, and when the eye isclosed as shown for instance in Fig. 2, the flat inner surface of theswinging or hinged hook (3 fits fiatwise against the correspondingsurface of the stationary hook 5. The hook 6 as shown in Fig. 1 can beswung away from the companion hook 5 to permit the connection of a chainor the like with the eye, and when the chain is thus connected, the eyewill be closed as shown in Fig. 2. The foregoing is a concisedescription of a breast or heel chain terminal in which my invention canbe incorporated. This structure, however, possesses as I have alreadynoted, a defect which I have overcome, and this by the provision of,means for locking the sections of the eye positively in closed relation.This result as may be inferred, can be secured in several differentways, although I show and will now describe highly advantageous means ofobtaining" it.

One of the compleniental hooks of the eye is provided with ailatch, theother having means to be engaged by the latch when in operative relationto maintain the eye positively closed. As shown the swinging or hingedhook6 is equipped with such a latch, that denoted by 8 having been foundhighly satisfactory. This latch in the form of a tongueextendinglaterally inward from the hinged hook (3 near the 'freo endthereof. The latch or tongue is pr ferably integral with the hinged hookand also preferably bendable for a reason that will hereinafter appear.The fixed hook 5 has a notch or seat 9 made rectangular to accommodatethe latch or tongue 8, the said seat or notch having its rear end closedand its front end opening into the inner flat surface of the hook 5.This seat or notch is in transverse register with the latch or tongue 8and is of progressively increasing depth commencing at its outer end,its bottom being curved longitudinally. The latch or tongue it will benoted, is of progressively increasing thickness from its free end towardits base. Owing to this construction when the latch is set, as willhereinafter appear, the outer surface of the latch or tongue will bepractically flush with the corresponding surface of the stationary hook5.

In Fig. 1 the eye 4 is shown as being open. At this time the latch ortongue extends at right angles from the peripherai portion of the hook6. In view of this condition a chain or other suitable part can beeasily connected with the eye. When the connection is made, the eye willbe closed as shown for example in Fig. i to cause the latch or tongue 8to be projected intothe seat. or notch 9. When this is done the latch ortongue will bent into the seat or notch 9 as shown in Fig. 5, thusfitting partially around the hook 5 and effectually preventingaccidental opening of the hoolrwhen the latch is set. To open the; eyeit is simply necessary to straighten out the latch at Copies of thispatent may be obtained for ch point the hooks can be separated to)OIlIlBCi] the chain therefrom. v V hat I claim is: A device of theclass described'comprising an eye formed of hooks which relae tivelyopen and close, one of the hooks having a latch bendable over the otherwhen the hooks are closed to maintain the closed relation.

2. A device ofthe class described comprising a shank provided atdifferent points in its length with a snap,- and two cooperating hookswhich relatively open and close,

one of the hooks being provided with a latch bendable around the other,to hold the hooks in closed relation.

3'. A device of the class described having an eye portion comprising twohooks which relatively open and close, said eye portion being directlyprovided with means to posi tively hold the hooks in closed relationagainst accidental opening movement.

i. A device of the class described comprising an eye formed of hookswhich relatively open and close, one of the hooks having a latch and theother having a seat into which the latch is bendable to hold the hooksclosed.

5. A device of the class described comprising an eye formed of hookswhich relatively swing toward and from each other,

notch opening into the inner face of it and 7 closed at its outer end,the latch being bend able into the notch when the hooks are in abutment.I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

V GEORGE W. TROOP.

Witnesses: r

L. L. MARKEL,

HEATH SUTHERLAND.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of -Patents, Washington,D. G.

